Arms Sales to Sierra Leone,Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, that she will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a Return of a report of the investigation into arms sales to Sierra Leone.(Janet Anderson.)

2

Message from the Lords,A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

The Lords have agreed to the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Bill, without Amendment.

The Lords have agreed to the National Minimum Wage Bill, with Amendments; to which they desire the concurrence of this House.

3

National Minimum Wage Bill,Lords Amendments to the National Minimum Wage Bill to be considered to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 240].

4

Northern Ireland Bill (Committee) [4th allotted day],The House, according to Order, again resolved itself into a Committee on the Northern Ireland Bill.

(In the Committee)

Clause No. 54 (The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission).

Amendment (No. 175) proposed, in page 25, line 26, after the word 'Commission', to insert the words 'with membership from Northern Ireland reflecting the community balance'.(Mr John McDonnell.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause agreed to.

Schedule No. 8 (The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission).

Amendments (Nos. 209 and 210) made.

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

Clause No. 55 (The Commission's functions).

Amendment (No. 43) proposed, in page 26, to leave out lines 2 to 6 and insert the words

'(3) The Assembly shall refer all proposed Measures to the Commission in draft and the Commission may advise the Assembly whether a proposed Measure is compatible with human rights, as the Commission thinks appropriate.

(4) The Assembly shall receive any such advice, and take it into account when considering the proposed Measure.'.(Mr Kevin McNamara.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendments (Nos. 181, 182, 189 and 190) made.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clause No. 56 (Assistance to individuals).

Amendment (No. 45) proposed, in page 26, line 29, at the end, to insert the words 'or

(c) which an individual has commenced, or wishes to commence, under section 62 or 63 of this Act; or

(d) which an individual has commenced, or wishes to commence, by way of judicial review which raises relevant issues within the general remit of the Commission.'.(Mr Kevin McNamara.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment (No. 46) proposed, in page 27, line 4, at the end, to add the words

'(5) The Commission may, with the permission of the court, submit its opinion as amicus curiae on the substance of the proceedings before the court, irrespective of whether the Commission is either a party to the proceedings, or has granted assistance in relation to proceedings under subsection (2).'.(Mr Kevin McNamara.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause agreed to.

Clauses Nos. 57 and 58 agreed to.

Clause No. 59 (The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland).

Amendment (No. 156) proposed, in page 27, line 33, at the end, to insert the words

'(1A) The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland shall give equal weight and equal consideration to all forms of discrimination that people or groups of people may face.'.(Mr Lembit Öpik.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment (No. 170) made.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Schedule No. 9 (The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland).

Amendment (No. 205) made.

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

Clause No. 60 (The Commission's principal functions).

Amendments (Nos. 202 to 204) made.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clause No. 61 (Statutory duty on public authorities).

Amendment (No. 199) proposed, in page 28, line 20, to leave out from the word 'opportunity' to the end of line 2 on page 29 and insert the words 'in relation to religious belief, political opinion, race, gender, disability, language, age, marital status, dependants and sexual orientation.'.(Mr Jeremy Corbyn.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment (No. 193) made.

Another Amendment (No. 157) proposed, in page 28, line 36, at the end, to insert the words

'(f) Any other body which would be included within the definition of a public authority for the purposes of the Human Rights Act 1998'.(Mr Lembit Öpik.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Schedule No. 10 (Equality: enforcement of duties).

Amendments (Nos. 206 and 211) made.

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

Clause No. 62 (Discrimination by public authorities).

Amendment (No. 51) proposed, in page 29, line 4, after the word 'discriminate', to insert the words 'directly or indirectly'.(Mr Eddie McGrady.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause agreed to.

Clauses Nos. 63 and 64 agreed to.

Clause No. 65 (Consultation with consultative Civic Forum).

Amendment (No. 95) proposed, in page 31, line 23, at the end, to add the words

'(6) The membership of the Forum shall be determined by the Assembly voting on a cross-community basis in accordance with section 4(5).'.(The Reverend Ian Paisley.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair, and Mr Jim Dowd reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill, and made amendments thereunto.

Bill, as amended in the Committee, to be considered to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 241].

5

International Monetary Fund,A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft International Monetary Fund (Increase in Subscription) Order 1998, which was laid before this House on 1st July, be approved(Mr Jim Dowd):It was agreed to.

6

Immigration,A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) Rules 1998, which were laid before this House on 2nd July, be approved(Mr Jim Dowd):It was agreed to.

7

Deregulation,A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 18 (Consideration of draft deregulation orders), That the draft Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998, which was laid before this House on 29th June, be approved(Mr Jim Dowd):It was agreed to.

8

Deregulation,A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 18 (Consideration of draft deregulation orders), That the draft Deregulation (Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles) Order 1998, which was laid before this House on 8th June, be approved(Mr Jim Dowd):It was agreed to.

9

Public Petitions,A Public Petition from residents of the United Kingdom for tougher penalties for hit and run driving was presented; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

10

Adjournment,A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn(Mr Jim Dowd);

Tuesday 28th July 1998

And the Motion having been made after Ten o'clock on Monday evening, and the Debate having continued for half an hour, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, it being then twenty five minutes past Twelve o'clock on Tuesday morning, till this day.

Defence Executive Agencies,Report and Accounts of the Defence Codification Agency for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1045] [Mr Secretary Robertson].

6

Education,Accounts of the Teacher Training Agency for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1048] [Clerk of the House].

7

Environment, Transport and the Regions Executive Agencies,Report and Accounts of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 836] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

8

Further and Higher Education,Accounts of

(1) Further Education Funding Council for England, and

(2) Higher Education Funding Council for England for 1997-98, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 1049 and 1046] [Clerk of the House].

London Underground,Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Minute, dated 27th July 1998, concerning a contingent liability consequent upon a contract to give engineering advice to London Regional Transport and the Government on a public-private partnership for London Underground [by Command] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

12

Miscellaneous Financial Provisions,Reports and Accounts of

(1) London First Centre, and

(2) West Midlands Development Agency

for 1997-98 [by Act] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].

13

National Audit,Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Ministry of Defence: Major Equipment Storage [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1005] [Clerk of the House].

14

National Heritage (Scotland),Accounts of the Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1047] [Clerk of the House].

15

National Lottery,Account of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Lottery Distribution for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1050] [Clerk of the House].

16

Northern Ireland Executive Agencies,Report and Accounts of the Compensation Agency for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 935] [Secretary Marjorie Mowlam].

Science and Technology,Accounts of the Economic and Social Research Council for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1053] [Clerk of the House].

19

Sierra Leone Arms Investigation (Legg Report),Return to an Address to Her Majesty this day for a Return of the Report of an inquiry by Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC and Sir Robin Ibbs KBE into arms sales to Sierra Leone; to be printed [No. 1016] [Mr Secretary Cook].

20

Training and Enterprise Councils,Accounts of the Training & Enterprise Councils and Chambers of Commerce, Training & Enterprise in England for 1996-97, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 967] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

Draft Conditional Fee Agreements Order 1998,The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Michael Foster (Worcester) and Mr David Lock from the Ninth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Mr Michael Foster (Hastings and Rye) and Mr Paul Stinchcombe.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1

Northern Ireland Affairs,Minutes of Evidence from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on 27th July [The Prison Service in Northern Ireland]; to be printed [No. 716-vi] [Mr Peter Brooke].

2

Public Accounts,(1) Sixty-second Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [The Purchase of the Read Codes and the Management of the NHS Centre for Coding and Classification]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 657];

(2) Sixty-third Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [DFEE: The Funding Council for England (The Management of Growth in the English Further Education Sector)]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 665];

(3) Sixty-fourth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [Countering Anti-competitive Behaviour in the Telecommunications Industry]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 842];

(4) Sixty-fifth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [Privatisation of the Rolling Stock Leasing Companies]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 782];

(5) Sixty-sixth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [Managing the Millennium Threat]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 816]; and

(6) Sixty-seventh Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [HM Treasury: Resource Accounting and Resource Based Supply]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 731]

[Mr David Davis].

3

Treasury,Eighth Report from the Treasury Committee [The New Fiscal Framework and the Comprehensive Spending Review], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 960] [Mr Giles Radice].